History BA (Hons)

Explore the past and prepare for your future with modules covering a thousand years of local, national and international history. With themes ranging from identity, race and ethnicity to politics and justice, from leisure and the landscape to war, conflict and social change, encompassing a wide variety of embedded skills. 

There has never been a more important time to study History and to think critically about the past. The past is contested, controversial and very much alive. Set within the historic environment of Chester, our exciting course offers not only an exploration of the past but also a gateway to your future.   

From Medieval to Modern, from local to global, we embrace a range of approaches including social, cultural and political history but also the study of material culture, digital humanities and the application of history in a practical context to help develop your employability prospects. Our inclusive curriculum means that you will challenge existing narratives about the past, and be encouraged to think critically about how and why these narratives have developed. You will also explore important themes and issues relating to race, diversity, gender, imperialism, conflict and climate change. Through the study of the past, we can make sense of our present and start to think about how to work together to shape our future.  Join our passionate team to start shaping your future.

The BA History course contains core modules at each level of study whilst also giving students a chance to explore the past in both breadth and depth. Students will explore the past to allow them to prepare for their future through topics covering a thousand years of local, national and international history. Our inclusive curriculum means that students will challenge existing narratives about the past and will be encouraged to think critically about how and why these narratives have developed. Students will also explore important themes and issues relating to race, diversity, gender, imperialism, conflict and climate change. Through the study of the past, we can make sense of our present and start to think about how to work together to shape our future.

In Year 1 (Level 4), students are introduced to global historical events, are given the opportunity to explore historical debates and are also exposed to key themes in Medieval, Early Modern and Contemporary History.

Year 2 (Level 5) builds on this foundation through more complex learning, which considers the uses and abuses of History in both the past and present whilst also allowing students to begin to focus on more specific regions, events or periods.

In Year 3 (Level 6), students will conduct project work related to heritage events and will immerse themselves in Special Subjects which focus on particular historical issues, and relevant primary source material, in greater depth. Students will also undertake a dissertation, supported by a supervisor, on a research topic of their own choice.

The course contains several optional modules which may run depending on the availability of staff expertise and the viability of cohorts. Where available, these options provide students with the opportunity to undertake study in particular areas of interest.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

Job Prospects

History graduates from Chester have pursued a wide range of careers reflecting the excellent transferable skills offered by a History degree, including, amongst many others, careers in teaching, law, the civil service, publishing, business, IT and research. 

Careers service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.